Agricultural News

Leaders, members and guests of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau gathered today at the organization’s headquarters in Oklahoma City just across the street from the Oklahoma Capital Building, to dedicate a newly constructed courtyard in celebration of OFB’s 75th Anniversary. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught OFB President Tom Buchanan for a moment to discuss today’s dedication, it’s significance to the organization and what message it is helping its members send to state lawmakers this legislative session. Listen to Hays and Buchanan discuss today’s dedication, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of this story.

“It’s the 75th Anniversary of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, something we’re very proud of and should be proud of - 75 years of history we have with this state,” Buchanan said. “So, we are dedicating actually the Southeast corner of our property here to represent the 77 counties.”

The courtyard features 77 plaques in the shape of all the respective counties across Oklahoma including a bit of history on each one. The courtyard also is laid out by the actual elevation of each county, with soil direct from each county as well. This all ties together to offer visitors a sense of the grassroots efforts throughout rural Oklahoma that OFB has championed over the last 75 years.

Today’s dedication was the final event, wrapping up OFB’s leadership conference that took place this week. Buchanan says, the courtyard in a way is a manifestation of the current mindset of members who are proud of the organization’s accomplishments over the last 75 years, and now look to stay just as relevant in the next 75 years.

“Our organization for 75 years has been focused on the cow and the plow. Our motto is “Improving the lives of rural Oklahoma,’ and there is quality of life along with that cow and plow,” Buchanan said. “We’re seeing very plainly in rural Oklahoma, education and healthcare are becoming very critical issues for quality of life in rural Oklahoma. So, our membership is looking at, is that something we should now be involved in and if we did, how would we do that?”